Network based control of remote system for enabling, disabling, and controlling gaming

Abstract

A convenience gaming system is provided. The convenience gaming system allows users to access applications via gaming communication devices coupled to a communication network. At least a portion of the network may be wireless. The gaming applications include gambling, financial, entertainment service, and other types of transactions. The system may include a user location determination feature to prevent users from conducting transactions from unauthorized areas.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a network interface; 
 at least one processor to:
 receive via the network interface a request to initiate a gaming session, wherein the gaming session enables an electronic device to interact with a gaming activity; 
 receive, via the network interface, location data of the electronic device; 
 determine whether the gaming activity is permitted in a current location of the electronic device; 
 transmit game disablement information to the electronic device via the network interface, in response to determining that the gaming activity is not permitted in the current location of the electronic device; 
 cause a network connectivity of the electronic device to disable a connection to the Internet while wager information associated with the gaming activity is being transferred from the electronic device, in response to determining that the gaming activity is permitted in the current location of the electronic device; and 
 initiate the gaming activity, in response to determining that the gaming activity is permitted in the current location of the electronic device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to ensure that the current location of the electronic device remains within an area where the gaming activity is permitted. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to monitor a location of the electronic device at predefined time intervals. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming activity is related to at least one of football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cause the electronic device to display sports video related to at least one sporting event. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to communicate information to the electronic device that causes the electronic device to render a gaming environment that enables the electronic device to select from certain game activities; and receive from the electronic device a selection of a given game activity. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive gaming commands from the electronic device with respect to the game activity; and establish an electronic record of the received gaming commands. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to communicate a command to the electronic device via the network interface to obtain location data; and responsive at least in part to communicating the command, receive, via the network interface, the location data from the electronic device. 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 receiving, by at least one processor, a request to initiate a gaming session via a communication network, wherein the gaming session enables an electronic device to interact with a gaming activity; 
 receiving, by the at least one processor, location data of the electronic device; 
 determining, by the at least one processor, whether the gaming activity is permitted in a current location of the electronic device; 
 transmitting, by the at least one processor, game disablement information to the electronic device via the communication network, in response to determining that the gaming activity is not permitted in the current location of the electronic device; 
 causing, by the at least one processor, the electronic device to disable a connection to the Internet while wager information associated with the gaming activity is being transferred from the electronic device, in response to determining that the gaming activity is permitted in the current location of the electronic device; and 
 initiating, by the at least one processor, the gaming activity, in response to determining that the gaming activity is permitted in the current location of the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising ensuring, by the at least one processor, that the current location of the electronic device remains within an area where the gaming activity is permitted. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising monitoring, by the at least one processor, a location of the electronic device at predefined time intervals. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the gaming activity is related to at least one of football, baseball, basketball, or hockey. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising causing, by the at least one processor, the electronic device to display sports video related to at least one sporting event. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising communicating, by the at least one processor, information that causes the electronic device to render a gaming environment that enables the electronic device to select from certain game activities; and receiving, by the at least one processor, from the electronic device, a selection of a given game activity. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving, by the at least one processor, gaming commands from the electronic device with respect to the game activity; and establishing, by the at least one processor, an electronic record of the received gaming commands. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising communicating, by the at least one processor, a command to the electronic device to obtain location data; and responsive at least in part to communicating the command, receiving, by the at least one processor, the location data from the electronic device.